The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-04
JIM ARNOTYs OATH

covered her nakeunesS, dragged her-
self YEARLY along St. Clair street the
other. night. 1t was in the gilded sec.
tom OF the street, and the dens of vice
and infamy were in full blast. The
fiddle made discordant shrieks and the
piano ratified as the woman peered
into one and another OF the vile plac-
es. By her side was girl oftwelve or
Whereabouts, ragged like herself, but
kith face that was beautiful, even
bongh tear.strained and cloud cast.
The two walked slowly and in sill
ence. Both seemed to have but one
object IN view, and that was to find
some one. They would steel careful
ly up to the door OF saloon and
peer cautiously through the cracks,
as II eager not to disturb the revelry
within. At one OF these doors, with
diamond cut glass in front, stood
tough-looking fellow, who was more
than "half seas over" though not too
drunk to notice the couple as they
glanced anxiously through the half
open doors.
lou WOH Inu Jill UucTcp uc
growled; 81 saw him going up to the
bridge half an hour ago, so get along.
We don't want you around here"
and with that he started toward the
woman as if to hurry her on her way.
Quick as flash she drew revolver
from the ragged folds OF her dress, and
SAID huskily: Don't yer lay yer
hands on me, Mike, or I'll send you
home sure" With threat Mike
turned away, aid the woman started
again up street.
They had nearly reached the bridge,
when suddenly both stopped Their
eyes had caught sight OF the one they
sought. He stood in front of the bar
in dirty-looking place. He was lean
ing carelessly against the bar, his head
resting upon his left hand. In his
right he held glass of beer. He was
kyithout a coat, and the red sleeves oil
is shirt were scarcely OF q ruddier
hue than his face, which was swelled
pand bloated. He was man of large,
powerful frame, seemingly capable oil
doing large amount OF work with lit
tie exertion. There was that in his
eyes and in his general appearance
which impressed one that, in spite oil
the surrounding and the bad indica.
tions, something good could come out
OF him. The woman watched him full
five minutes, and her eyes flashed as
she saw him pay for the drinks, not
for himself, but for half dozen other
men, who were in all stages OF drunk.
enness.
Finally she turned to the girl, who
was nearly ready to cry, and whisper
ing O. few words to her, left her stand
ing on the sidewalk, and, walking rap
idly into the saloon, she made straight
tor the man in the red shirt.
"Jim want you to come home"
The person addressed turned around
and, looking at the woman contemp.
tuously said:
"What do you want OF me? What
are yov doing here, anyhow" and
when he had framed the two ques.
tions, he emphasized the dispeasure
evident from his looks by seizing the
woman by the arm and pushing her
(lward the door. She turned ashy
lie as the man laid his hands upon
5r, and then drew her revolver, which
She almost thrust IN his tace. "Jim,"
she said, her voice choking with emo.
ton "you must come home with me,
or will shoot you. / have worked
myself nearly to death for you, Jim
Arnott, and, instead OF helping me,
you steal my earnings and come here
to drink it up. We have q babe at
home, and God knows 1t suffers for
want of enough to eat. Liz is out
side, and the poor girl is so faint and
hungry that she can hardly
walk. Look at me! The woman you
promised to cherish and protect, Jim
Arnott, in rags almost to nakedness,
and without mouthtul to eat since
morning. We might have been happy
II you had let drink alone. We might
be respectable to-day but for your
want OF manhood. Come home, say,
or will shoot you as true as there is
q God in heaven" She almost shrek.
ed the last words, and Jim Arnott was
not so drunk that he could face the
glittering barrel OF the revolver. He
muttered something as sort oil fare
well to his boon companions, and then
led the way out, followed by the WON
an.
A Blade reporter who had witnessed
the performance. walked after the trio.
A long distance out from the center
OF the city, the wife and daughter al
most dragged the half-drunken man
into plain, single-story cottage. In
moment a faint light cleaned
through the windows, which were de-
void OF shutter or shade. The interi-
or OF the room was evidence enough
OF the pinchsd poverty which dwelt
there. deal table, two or
three rough wooden chairs, an apol-